Gorham Manufacturing Company (1865–1961). <em>Coffeepot</em>, ca. 1883. Silver and Ivory, 8 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 24.1 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 1992.209. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1992.209.jpg)

Gorham Manufacturing Company (1865–1961). Coffeepot, ca. 1883. Silver and Ivory, 8 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 24.1 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 1992.209. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1992.209.jpg)

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Jabez Gorham was fourteen years old when he became an apprentice. Seven years later, in 1813, he opened a jewelry business, and worked as a jeweler for the next several decades, eventually bringing his son into the business as well.

John Gorham took over his father's company, which in 1865 was incorporated as Gorham Manufacturing Company. For about ten years the company had great success, using new technology to increase production, but in 1877 John went broke and had to resign. Although these initial difficulties set the company back, it was not long before Gorham became the second most well-known American silver manufacturer, after New York's Tiffany & Co. Gorham went on to great national and international success and acclaim through the late nineteenth and into the twentieth centuries. In the 1960s, the company was sold and closed its doors.

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Both of these silver pieces were acquired with the funds from the H. Randolph Lever Fund in the early 1990 and 1992 as indicated in their accession numbers.

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Coffeepot

Decorative Arts and Design

On View: Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

MAKER Gorham Manufacturing Company, 1865–1961

MEDIUM Silver and Ivory

Place Made: Providence, Rhode Island, United States

DATES ca. 1883

DIMENSIONS 8 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 24.1 x 12.1 cm) (show scale)

MARKINGS Engraved on bottom: (in script) "AR/1898" Struck on bottom: lion passant, anchor in shield, gothic G Sterling 1580/P

SIGNATURE no signature

INSCRIPTIONS no inscriptions

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 1992.209

CREDIT LINE H. Randolph Lever Fund

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Coffeepot, silver. Body of coffeepot sits on plain, slightly flaring, circular ring and comprises a large cube with rounded edges in the lower section; a smaller cube on flaring base in the upper section and a hinged, square, slightly domed lid. C-shaped handle with ivory insulators and S-shaped spout are cast and chased in form of a bamboo with twining bamboo shoots and leaves. Lower Section of body has, at base, up-turned lambrequins, each with repoussée palmette. Above this is an area of deeply reposed and chased primroses and leaves on a ground punched with small triangles. At juncture with upper body is a band of overlapping scallops with alternating geometric patterns. Upper body has, on each side, a rectangular panel with rounded lower edges and hammered ground, above which, at rim, is a band of basket-weave design. Pendant from that band on front and rear of pot are bunches of leaves; behind spout, a branch of roses. Hinged lid has ribs running diagonally from each corner forming four triangular panels of hammered ground; ribbed cone finial on disc. CONDITION: Ivory insulators somewhat stained and cracked but intact, otherwise excellent. Engraved date is late nineteenth-century addition.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

CAPTION Gorham Manufacturing Company (1865–1961). Coffeepot, ca. 1883. Silver and Ivory, 8 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 4 3/4 in. (21.6 x 24.1 x 12.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, H. Randolph Lever Fund, 1992.209. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.1992.209.jpg)

IMAGE overall, CUR.1992.209.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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